The College Football Playoff roster will be announced on Sunday, December 8, 2024 on ESPN.

How to watch: Fans can watch the show for free through a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV. Fans also watch via a subscription to Sling TV.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: College Football Playoff selection show

When: December 8, 2024

Time: Noon ET

TV: ESPN

Live stream: DirecTV stream or fuboTV

Here’s a preview from the Associated Press:

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Undefeated Oregon lived up to expectations and secured the top spot in the College Football Playoff. Underdog Clemson scored at the last second and stole one of the last.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s quarterback got injured, Alabama’s hopes grew bleaker, and the selection committee decided to create a 12-team postseason bracket that promises only one thing for certain: a 100 percent chance of upsetting at least some of the team’s rabid fan base College football.

The drama began – and ended – when No. 17 Clemson blew a three-touchdown lead Saturday night, then hit a 56-yard field goal with just one last minute to win and earn its way into the 12-team playoffs, 34-31 paced victory over No. 8 SMU.

This Atlantic Coast Conference title game ended any chance of a quiet, predictable Selection Sunday.

It presented the committee with a decision it hoped it wouldn’t have to make: Take the three-loss Crimson Tide (9-3) and rejoin the Southeastern Conference. Or take SMU, which has just two losses and showed so much heart in its comeback against Clemson that even the opposing coach lobbied for the Mustangs (11-2).

“This is a playoff football team,” said Clemson’s Dabo Sweeney, himself making his seventh playoff appearance. “SMU, they better be in the damn playoffs. What a comeback these guys have made.”

SMU coach Rhett Lashley didn’t argue.

“It doesn’t matter what I say, but it would be incredibly wrong” if SMU were left out, he said. “I think that would be unprecedented. It would set a really bad precedent. It would break all the tenets of what we were told.”

The committee’s most closely scrutinized decision will determine whether the SEC sends three or four teams to this year’s tournament and whether the ACC gets one or two.

It’s all but certain the Big Ten will have four, led by Oregon, a 45-37 win over Penn State in a game that cemented the Ducks (13-0) as the postseason favorite.

The SMU loss also caused a stir in the discussion about a bye in the first round. Arizona State, which began the day with a 45-19 win over Iowa State for the Big 12 title, now appears to be on track to become the fourth-best conference champion. The best four advance directly to the quarterfinals.

Of course, this assumes the committee ensures the Sun Devils are ahead of Clemson. ASU finished 15th in the latest rankings, two spots ahead of the Tigers.

Georgia QB suffers injury, but Dawgs get big break

After a 22-19 overtime win over No. 2 Texas in SEC play, there will be no doubt that Georgia gets a bye in the first round.

But to say the Bulldogs (11-2) are currently one of the top four teams in the country might be an exaggeration.

They were outgained by more than 100 yards by the Longhorns; they have two losses; They also have a big question mark at quarterback after Carson Beck left the game with an injured hand.

The committee has taken injuries into consideration before — it eliminated Florida State from the four-team playoffs last year with injured quarterbacks on its roster.

That won’t happen to Georgia, but it will force a discussion about who really deserves those byes.

They are currently projected to go to teams that were ranked No. 1 (Oregon), No. 5 (Georgia), No. 10 (Boise State) and No. 15 (Arizona State) just a week ago and whose rankings are likely only one or two different on Sunday Places will change.

Indiana asks: Why aren’t we a home team?

Everything else will be a matter of analysis, statistics, “eye testing” and some semblance of an attempt by the committee to prevent an insurrection in conference headquarters and coaches’ offices across the country.

The first round games will be played at four locations on December 20th and 21st, so home advantage is very important.

No. 9 Indiana coach Curt Cignetti was among those watching Saturday’s action and asked, “Why aren’t we seeded for a home game right now?”

The Hoosiers lost the biggest game of their season 38-15 to Ohio State, which was three spots ahead of Indiana following its own 13-10 loss to Michigan.

Keep an eye on other teams

Notre Dame: As an independent, the Irish were never eligible for a bye but will be at home the first weekend.

Texas: The Longhorns are 11-0 against the World and 0-2 against Georgia. Does this mean they are far enough behind to face an away game? The committee has indicated it is not inclined to punish title game losers so severely.

Penn State: Coach James Franklin said he felt the Nittany Lions showed enough against Oregon to stay home in the first game, but “we’ll be excited for every opportunity we get.”

Ohio State and Tennessee: They would have been paired in an 8-9 game at Ohio State last week – fair enough, except that the AP Top 25 would have placed them on the flip-flop, which would have given the Vols the home opener.

Boise State: Friday night’s win puts Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty into the playoffs – with a bye, no less. I love the underdog, love the playoffs, but does it make sense for Alabama to play, say, Texas for the right to play the Mountain West champion in the Fiesta Bowl?

Miami: They were the first team eliminated last week, will likely be the second team eliminated this week, and along with the loser in the SMU-Alabama debate, a great example of how expanding the playoffs will improve college Doesn’t make the postseason perfect.

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